J’AIME APRIL 2022

J’AIME 

Y O U R L O C A L L U X U R Y L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E 

A P R I L 2 0 2 2 

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SPRING 

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DISCOVER 

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LICHFIELD 

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Welcome to J’AIME 

Spring is most definitely in the air; the lighter nights are 

on their way and freezing temperatures are, hopefully, a 

thing of the past. It won’t be too long before the heady 

scent of barbecues fills the air, and if you fancy brushing 

up your skill in preparation, we have the perfect place. 

Worship Worth Experiences cookery school near Sutton 

Coldfield, specialises in outdoor cooking for all the 

family, and we chat to founder Alison Worship about 

sharing her love of food with students of all ages. 

Elsewhere on the foodie front, MasterChef finalist Liam 

Rogers shares a recipe for one of his favourite dinner 

party dishes - a beautiful halibut dish which is sure to 

impress - plus we get into the Easter spirit with our 

round-up of some of the tastiest chocolate treats. 

If your garden needs some TLC, Lichfield Garden 

Centre’s Byron Lewis shares his tips for spring, and we 

take a look at some of the hottest trends in interiors for 

2022. 

Now that entertainment and events are firmly back 

on the agenda, we round up some of the best goingson 

around the Midlands this month, plus we chat to 

musician Themba Mvula, music director of Lichfield 

Gospel Choir, about the joys of singing and how to get 

involved. 

With all of your usual favourites from fashion, beauty, 

homes and more, we hope there’s plenty here to put a 

spring in your step this month! 

If you enjoy what you read in this issue, then why not 

help us to spread the word? As well as being delivered 

directly to homes in selected postcodes across the 

area, you can pick J’AIME up free of charge in major 

supermarkets around the Midlands, as well as read the 

whole thing - and plenty more! - online at 

www.jaimemagazine.com 

EDITOR: AMY NORBURY 

EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

ADVERTISING: JAN ASHLEY 

ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

07388 335 931 

DESIGN: DESIGN@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

CONTRIBUTORS: KATY EDGINGTON, 

BYRON LEWIS, LIAM ROGERS, JEAN 

LAMB, DR DAVID ECCLESTON, DEBORAH 

MITCHELL, RETO PETER 

J’AIME IS PUBLISHED BY ASHBURY 

PUBLICATIONS LIMITED. 

Check us out online at: 

WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

Find us on 

/JAIMEMAGAZINE 

@JAIMEMAGAZINE 

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SPONSORED BY 

3

CO N T E N T S 

InsideJ’aime this month... 

6 Lichfield Gospel Choir - Discovering the joys of 

singing 

12 Richard Winterton - Incredible historical 

memorabilia up for auction 

14 Property - Property of the month 

16 Property - Chosen Home reflects on a strong 

start to 2022 

18 Interiors - Soft and serene marshmallow hues 

22 Interiors - Walk the line 

26 Interiors - Creating a home cinema experience 

28 Gardening - Spring into action with Lichfield 

Garden Centre 

30 Food and drink - Easter chocolate treats 

32 Food and drink - Embrace the great outdoors 

with a Sutton Coldfield cookery school 

36 Food and drink - A dinner party delight from 

MasterChef finalist Liam Rogers 

38 St George’s Day - Family fun at Tamworth 

Castle 

42 Fawn Press - The new Staffordshire publisher 

representing diversity in poetry 

46 What’s On - Events around the Midlands this 

month 

50 Wealth Matters - The world of finance with 

Jean Lamb 

52 Health Matters - Dr David Eccleston examines 

health topics each month 

54 Fashion - All white 

56 Beauty - The basic beauty mantra 

58 In the news - A Spanish Pilates retreat 

SPONSORED BY 

4

F E AT U R E 

The gospel truth 

KATY EDGINGTON FINDS OUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE PART OF LICHFIELD GOSPEL CHOIR FROM 

ITS MUSIC DIRECTOR THEMBA MVULA AND THREE ENTHUSIASTIC CHOIR MEMBERS 

PERFORMING AT LICHFIELD FESTIVAL 

WITH BLACK VOICES IN 2017 

At more than 100 members strong and with a 

repertoire which embraces African, gospel and 

soulful music, Lichfield Gospel Choir has an 

infectious joy and a sense of community at its heart. 

That’s at least partly down to the choir’s ethos of 

creating a space where each member can participate 

equally, regardless of ability. 

The choir began as a series of workshops led by 

Birmingham-based acapella quintet, Black Voices, 

for the Lichfield Festival in 2009, when a festival 

chorus was created. The project was such a success 

that a core group from that original chorus decided 

to set up their own permanent gospel choir. 

Not all members have been a part of the choir for so 

long, though. Andy Patterson and his wife joined six 

years ago, when they were looking for a challenge in 

their retirement. 

“Initially we had a ‘taster’ session with a local, 

commercially franchised choir,” Andy explains. “This 

proved quite daunting with both a large number 

of singers involved and the pace of learning. Some 

friends suggested we sign up for Lichfield Gospel 

Choir, since we wouldn’t need to audition; it seemed 

more locally focussed and community-based - and we 

didn’t need to know how to read music, which was a 

huge bonus!” 

Others with more musical experience, like Bob 

Harrison who had been a member of Lichfield 

Operatic Society for almost 30 years, joined when 

other choirs turned out not to be quite what they 

were looking for. 

“A friend recommended Lichfield Gospel Choir, and, 

as soon as I joined, everything seemed just right,” 

Bob says. “I had a warm welcome, felt part of the 

6 www.jaimemagazine.com

choir from the start and loved the music. 

I must admit I struggled with the words 

initially but after a few weeks everything 

fell into place, and I have never looked 

back.” 

The choir has been led from the start by 

music director Themba Mvula, who was 

joined by Gabriella Liandu as assistant 

music director in 2020. Born and raised 

in Zambia, Themba started singing and 

playing keyboard at an early age. Aged 

11, he moved to the UK and took every 

musical opportunity available to him, 

singing with the National Youth Choir 

of Wales and studying at Birmingham 

Conservatoire. 

After graduation Themba devoted time 

to teaching singing in schools, conducting 

choirs and leading vocal workshops, 

while continuing to develop his solo career. His 

educational and community work has included 

projects with Birmingham Opera Company, 

Birmingham Hippodrome, English National Opera, 

Ex Cathedra Education, and the National Children’s 

Choir of Great Britain. 

Passionate about helping people find confidence 

with singing, Themba specialises in teaching music 

by ear. The choir learns all of their music this way, a 

completely different skill to reading it off a page and 

one which Themba believes allows for a much more 

engaged experience. 

“I find if people have the notes and words in front of 

THE GROUP TOOK TO REHEARSING IN 

A LOCAL BARN DURING COVID 

LICHFIELD GOSPEL CHOIR 

them it can become an almost intellectual exercise,” 

he says. “If you don’t have that then you’re forced to 

rely on your senses… listening not just to the musical 

notes, but also to the way something is sung, to the 

expressions of someone’s face, to the moment in 

their body. 

“Teaching this way allows me to get so much more 

life and energy out of the choir and the resulting 

sound can be really exhilarating! It also means they’ll 

have these melodies and harmonies embedded in 

them for years to come. I reckon the average choir 

member has over 30 songs in various languages and 

styles memorised, which I think is pretty impressive.” 

The group is constantly evolving and taking on new 

challenges, singing everything from Nigerian lullabies 

to Primal Scream. So what does Themba 

look for when choosing what they’ll sing? 

“The most important thing is that it has to 

be fun to sing for each voice part, including 

the basses! And this means I’ll often end up 

doing my own arrangements to make things 

work for them. I’m not interested in doing 

impressive stuff: the joy is in the richness of 

the harmonies, the energy of the rhythms, 

and the movements! So much music from the 

South African choral tradition is perfect for 

this, and that’s why it’s such a key part of our 

repertoire.” 

For Andy, the singing itself is undoubtedly 

the aspect of the choir he enjoys most. 

“No musical scores, no prior musical 

knowledge, learning everything by rote - 

and the totally absorbing enchantment of 

African (and many other) gospel melodies 

and rhythms, as well as initially impenetrable 


7

lyrics! It’s a transformational 

experience which is hugely 

rewarding on all sorts of levels.” 

Fellow choir member Kate Slater 

joined in 2014 after attending 

a gospel singing workshop with 

Themba. She says rehearsals 

on Tuesdays soon became the 

highlight of her week. 

“It’s kind of impossible to 

describe the utter joy of singing 

in our choir. I’ve made wonderful 

friends and we’re very lucky to 

have such a brilliant, talented 

music director in Themba, he 

has so much faith in us, is just 

endlessly encouraging and brings 

this enormous amount of energy to everything he 

does.” 

“This is a very friendly choir who have learned to 

sing with no inhibitions,” adds Bob. “The music we 

sing is very uplifting and I always used to say that I 

walk to rehearsals and float back home on a wave 

of euphoria! I love learning by rote and some of the 

African harmonies that Themba puts together are 

simply sumptuous.” 

Like all community groups, the choir were forced 

LICHFIELD GOSPEL CHOIR’S TENTH 

ANNIVERSARY CONCERT AT LICFIELD 

GUILDHALL IN 2020 

THEMBA MVULA HAS BEEN 

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF LICHFIELD 

GOSPEL CHOIR SINCE ITS 

INCEPTION 

to adapt or die in March 2020 when Covid-19 hit. 

They were straight out the gate in the very early 

days, instigating online rehearsals that carried on 

throughout 2020. 

“It seemed like it would be a real challenge at first, 

but thanks to the enthusiasm and determination of 

our incredible committee we very quickly found a 

model that started with me live streaming from my 

bedroom(!), imagining the choir were there in front 

of me and just leading as I normally would,” says 

Themba. “Then we invested in some equipment and 

software, and we started using Zoom and 

YouTube simultaneously - not everyone 

was a fan of Zoom! 

“I pre-recorded all the vocal parts so it 

would feel like people were singing as part 

of a group and in harmony. That seemed 

to work really well. Very quickly it felt like 

we had adjusted, and it became a model 

in its own right, and it actually had some 

positives in that I was getting to know the 

individuals in the choir and what they 

sounded like so much better - I would 

encourage solos and other interaction 

as a way of making less of a one-way 

exchange.” 

It was hugely important to Themba as 

well as the choir members that they kept 

going and kept in touch online during the 

pandemic. 

“At one point, it was the only thing in my 

week I knew would actually happen; being 

a freelancer almost all of my other work 

disappeared. The choir rehearsals gave me 

something to prepare for and something 

to look forward to. And more than that 

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it was just great to connect with people, singing and 

laughing together. I think lots of our members really 

valued that too.” 

In recognition of his inspirational and dedicated 

leadership, which ensured the choir continued to 

thrive despite the setbacks and hurdles of multiple 

lockdowns, Themba was shortlisted for both a 

Making Music award and, together with the choir, 

a Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration award in 

2021. 

Whenever there was a safe opportunity to do so, 

the choir found ways to sing together in person, 

including adopting a temporary rehearsal home in 

a local barn. They also took part in several virtual 

performances, but everyone is looking forward to 

performing in front of an audience again. Luckily, 

there are already lots of 

events in the diary for 2022. 

Dates include a concert with 

the City of Lichfield Concert 

Band at Lichfield Cathedral 

on Saturday, May 14, and 

a performance at Lichfield 

FUSE Festival on Saturday, 

July 9. On Sunday, July 10, 

Lichfield Gospel Choir will 

join a rousing large-scale 

concert at Birmingham 

Symphony Hall to mark 

the 10-year anniversary of 

Community Spirit. 

“We are all performers, and 

this is what we live for,” 

says Bob. “It’s great singing 

together in 

rehearsals but the buzz of 

live performances is on 

another level. Particularly 

as we have an 

extensive portfolio of 

songs and Themba never 

lets on to us what we 

are going to sing at any 

concert. He plays the first 

few bars of a song and 

nods to us as if to say, 

‘you know this one’ and, 

somehow, we do, and we 

have never let him down 

– yet! No words, no music, 

no clue what is coming 

next: I can’t wait!” 

“It feels like we’ve grown 

so much as a choir over the last couple of years,” 

agrees Kate. “We’ve become even closer as a group 

(all that staring into each other’s living rooms over 

18 months on Zoom!) which I think has made us 

braver and stronger together - it’s 

going to be so exciting to see what lies ahead.” 

If you’re interested in learning more about Lichfield 

Gospel Choir or even getting involved, the best way 

is to go and see them perform! There is currently 

a waiting list for sopranos and altos, and a healthy 

number of tenors and basses, but they are accepting 

new members so do get in touch. 

For more details visit 

www.lichfieldgospelchoir.co.uk or find 

Lichfield Gospel Choir on Facebook. 

THEMBA MVULA CUTTING THE 

CAKE AT THE CHOIR’S TENTH 

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 

MUSIC DIRECTOR THEMBA 

MVULA AND ASSISTANT MUSIC 

DIRECTOR GABRIELLA LIANDU 


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F E AT U R E 

An historical find 

A LICHFIELD FAMILY’S ‘FAVOURITE UNCLE’ HAD AN INCREDIBLE PAST INCLUDING 

WW2 SERVICE AS PART OF THE TEAM WHO ARRESTED HEINRICH HIMMLER. A SPECIAL 

MILITARIA AUCTION AT RICHARD WITERTON AUCTIONEERS HAS SHONE A SPOTLIGHT 

ON THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF GRENVILLE GRAYER 

The role played by a Midlands soldier in capturing 

one of the 20th century’s most notorious figures has 

come to light ahead of a special auction. 

Evil SS leader Heinrich Himmler planned to flee the 

ruins of Nazi Germany in disguise following Adolf 

Hitler’s suicide at the end of the Second World War 

in Europe but he was arrested by suspicious British 

Intelligence Corps soldiers. 

And it was a punishment meted out to naughty 

schoolboys that proved a bizarre key to identifying 

the evil architect of the Holocaust. 

For Himmler was given a page of lines to complete 

for a handwriting sample – and that chilling piece of 

paper is still in existence. 

Nearly eight decades on, the remarkable story of 

Grenville Grayer, from Great Barr, Birmingham, 

came under the spotlight as his militaria collection 

and British Empire Medal went up for auction with 

Richard Winterton Auctioneers at The Tamworth 

Auction Rooms, Church Street. 

Born in 1917, Mr Grayer joined the Army in 1939 

and initially served with the Royal Army Service 

Corps before joining the newly formed Army 

Intelligence Corps, completing training in Scotland 

attached to 45 Field Security Section with the rank 

of sergeant. 

It was while serving with 45 FSS in Germany 

following the Nazi surrender that he encountered 

one of the 20th century’s most notorious mass 

murderers. 

Referred to as ‘treuer Heinrich’ – ‘the loyal Heinrich’ 

– since the early 1930s by Hitler, Himmler’s devotion 

disintegrated in the final weeks of the war as he 

attempted in vain to broker a truce with the Allies 

which would see him installed as a post-war German 

leader. 

The inevitable rejection sent Himmler to ground, 

attempting to escape disguised as an ordinary soldier. 

During the morning of May 22 1945, a group was 

stopped at the Bremervorde bridge and handed over 

GRENVILLE GRAYER, OF THE 

45 FSS INTEL CORPS 

to 45 FSS for identity checking. 

One, purporting to be a Sergeant Heinrich Hizinger, 

proved especially suspicious as his papers bore a 

stamp known to be one used by fleeing SS members. 

“Mr Grayer would often chat with his family how 

one of the soldiers looked uneasy and out of place,” 

said Nick Thompson, militaria specialist at Richard 

Winterton Auctioneers, who researched Mr Grayer’s 

archive at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End 

Lane, Fradley Park. 


“When the prisoners were checked, some were in 

possession of documents which the Intel Corps knew 

were being faked to cover up real identities. 

“One of these was a Sgt Heinrich Hizinger. Mr 

Grayer and another sergeant by the name of Britton 

became even more suspicious and the suspect was 

ordered to write lines to confirm and ascertain his 

handwriting. 

“Soon the game was up, and the man identified 

himself as Heinrich Himmler.” 

Himmler inked lines repeating: “Ich soll das 

Reinigungsgerät mitnehmen.” The Reinigungsgerät 

34 was a cleaning kit for a rifle, so the writing 

roughly translates as: “I must bring my rifle cleaning 

kit.” 

The macabre page from Himmler’s brief 

incarceration contains possibly the last words ever 

committed to paper by one of history’s most evil 

men. Within hours, he would bite down on a cyanide 

capsule – an ‘SS Cough Drop’ – secreted in a tooth. 

The date was May 23 1945, two weeks after the 

German surrender and three weeks after Hitler’s 

own suicide. 

In the hours that followed Himmler’s demise, Mr 

Grayer liberated the handwriting samples and a 

silk toiletry bag which belonged to the SS chief 

as ‘tropaion’ – trophies of war – and the items 

remained in his family ever since. 

As J’AIME went to press, they were due to go under 

the hammer as part of Mr Grayer’s medals archive, 

including his British Empire Medal in original box of 

issue, named to 135702 AWO CL 2 Grenville Grayer 

of the Intelligence Corps, plus Africa, Italy, France 

and Germany Stars, Defence and War medals, all 

unnamed as issued. 

The group was accompanied by an original cloth 

insignia shoulder patch for 30 Corps and a souvenir 

medallion celebrating the unit. 

A wealth of other paperwork included a photocopy 

of Himmler’s arrest report signed by those present 

including Mr Grayer; an original photo of him 

with colleagues from 45 FSS Intel Corps; original 

paperwork from 30 Corps Intelligence Summary 

including intercepts showing life at the front from 

the German perspective; plus many other items of 

papers, photos and forms and a large double sided 

silk escape-style map. 

The archive was expected to fetch in the region of 

£2,000 to £3,000, 

Other trophies of war from the collection of Mr 

Grayer, who died in 1995 aged 78, were to be sold 

separately. 

These included a rare M41 tropical SS cap – 

expected to fetch up to £2,000 – plus a swastika 

armband complete with original manufacturer’s slip 

and a Luftwaffe pilot’s parachute harness. 

“All things considered, it is simply an amazing 

archive,” added Mr Thompson. 

Mr Grayer’s nephew Martyn Grayer, of Walsall 

Road, Lichfield, runs an advertising and marketing 

agency in the city. 

“It has been a fascinating experience to revisit 

the extraordinary story that relates his wartime 

experiences and the event of Himmler’s capture that 

with recent events seem to resonate even more,” he 

said. 

The family moved to Cromwell’s Meadow in the late 

1960s and Grenville was a frequent visitor to the city, 

dining regularly at The Shoulder of Mutton. 

“Our ‘Uncle Gren’ fulfilled the entire definition of 

a ‘favourite uncle’, a unique character, generous, 

supportive with an anarchic humour but most of all 

liked by everyone he met,” added Martyn. 

“On behalf of my sister Melanie and brother Chris, 

we are pleased that his story has been shared.” 

To book an appointment for a valuation of medals or 

militaria with Nick Thompson, call 01543 251081 

or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk. 

GRENVILLE GRAYER’S MEDALS 

WERE UP FOR AUCTION IN 

TAMWORTH 


13

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front aspect and an en-suite bathroom that could also be 

used as a family bathroom with an additional door into the 

inner hall. Bedroom two overlooks the mature gardens and 

benefits from an en-suite shower room. At the end of the 

hallway are bedrooms three and four. 

Both the front and rear gardens are beautifully presented 

and well maintained with established front and rear 

gardens. 

The rear garden has a patio area beyond which are the 

extensive lawns, bordered with extensive shrubs and trees. 

At the rear boundary of the garden is a gate giving access 

into the large paddock sitting in just over 0.5 of an acre. 

W E L O V E : T H E DE V E L O P M E N T P O T E N T IA L 


EXCLUSIVE OFF 

MARKET SALES 

Roman Road, Little Aston Park 

Ladywood Road, Four Oaks Park 

EXCLUSIVELY SOLD BY 

ASTON KNOWLES 

Two outstanding properties, situated in Sutton Coldfi eld’s most 

EXCLUSIVE locations and sold discreetly, off market for record breaking prices. 

CONTACT ASTON KNOWLES TODAY FOR YOUR NO OBLIGATION MARKET APPRAISAL. 

SALES / LETTINGS / PROPERTY MANAGEMENT / INTERNATIONAL 

0121 362 7878 

enquiries@astonknowles.com 

www.astonknowles.com 

@astonknowles

P R O P E RTY 

Springing into action to 

find dream homes 

MIDLANDS-BASED ESTATE AGENT CHOSEN HOME HAS ENJOYED A SUCCESSFUL 

FIRST QUARTER TO 2022 AS IT REPORTS THAT THE APPETITE FOR PROPERTY 

ACROSS THE REGION IS STRONGER THAN EVER. 

The business is preparing for a busy spring as sellers 

prepare to showcase their homes and gardens at their 

best, and buyers make the most of the improving 

weather to step up their viewings in the search for the 

perfect new home. 

Nicki Ash, Chosen Home director, said: “We’re just 

three months into the year, and already the signs 

are there that the demand for buying and selling is 

set to surpass even last year, with high numbers of 

instructions and viewings despite multiple storms and 

adverse weather conditions. 

“The appetite for property, be it taking the first 

step onto the ladder, downsizing, thinking bigger or 

buying as an investment to serve the growing private 

rental market, is stronger than ever, and with spring 

approaching - the most popular time for people to 

place their home on the market and look to move - we 

anticipate it becoming even more so,” she said. 

Chosen Home has now been established for 18 

months, and continues to place emphasis on its 

customer service, something that with a 5* ‘excellent’ 

Trustpilot rating, it has a proven track record in 

delivering. 

The team anticipates a great deal of interest from 

first-time buyers and investors alike in the latest 

addition to Chosen Home’s books: a fabulous luxury 

apartment development located in the heart of Sutton 

Coldfield. The Old Art School, comprising 12 one, 

two and three-bedroom apartments finished to the 

highest specification, has been designed with young 

professionals in mind, located just a five-minute walk 

from the town centre and its railway station with 

direct links to Birmingham, Lichfield and surrounding 

towns. 

Combining premium designed kitchens with 

integrated BOSCH appliances, luxury ceramictiled 

bathrooms with Hudson Reed products and 

underfloor heating, and state-of-the-art WiFicontrolled 

electric panel radiator systems, the stunning 

apartments are set over four floors in a beautifully 

restored listed building, each featuring open-plan 

living areas ideal for entertaining, and spacious 

bedrooms. Four of the 12 offer two- or three-bedroom 

living spaces set over two storeys, while there are 

six one-bedroom apartments and two single-storey 

apartments with two bedrooms. 

Since being appointed as sole agent earlier this 

month, the business has experienced high enquiry 

levels around the former art school, from both young 

professionals and savvy investors seeking buy-to-let 

opportunities in the town. 

Prices for the apartments start at £165,000. A copy 

of the brochure and further details are available from 

Chosen Home on 0121 222 1880 or at 

team@chosenhome.com. 


Excellent 

“ If you are planning on 

moving home in the future, 

 

You will not be disappointed.” 

 

 

chosenhome.com 

Call 0121 222 1180

INTERIORS 

Sweet 

and serene 

AWAY from the chaos of the world all around us, our 

homes are our sanctuaries; our place to escape, relax 

and be at our most comfortable. And this season we’re 

taking interiors inspiration from the sweetest of treats; 

marshmallows. In hues of mellow white and the softest of 

blush pinks, these sweetshop favourites create the perfect 

palette for a serene scheme. 

As decor trends continue to move away from cool greys as 

the neutral of choice, the marshmallow vibes of creamy 

off-white and soft, subtle pink are easy, warm neutrals 

to build a tranquil look around. Stick to all whites for a 

seriously zen-like environment, or bring in a touch of pink 

for a more romantic, feminine scheme. 

Take inspiration, too, from that marshmallow texture; 

squishy cloud-like seating, plump cushions and oodles of 

tactile fabrics lend themselves nicely to a cosy, enveloping 

feel. 

PEACHSKIN QUILTED BEDSPREAD IN PETAL 

PINK, £98, THE FRENCH BEDROOM CO. 

WWW.FRENCHBEDROOMCOMPANY.CO.UK 

£750 

LAURA ASHLEY ARTICHOKE LIGHT CERAMIC TABLE 

LAMP WITH SHADE, LAURA ASHLEY LIGHTING. 

WWW.DARLIGHTING.COM/LAURA-ASHLEY 

£99 

£245 

BERTIE FEATHER PENDANT 

LIGHT IN BLUSH PINK, 

COLDHARBOURLIGHTS.COM 

ALICE UPHOLSTERED DINING CHAIR IN ALMOND, 

PEPPERMILL INTERIORS, BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK. 

WWW.PEPPERMILLINTERIORS.COM 

£POA 

£99 

GAIA DINING TABLE, DESIGNED BY MONICA 

ARMANI, KESSELER BIRMINGHAM. 

WWW.KESSELERBIRMINGHAM.COM 

MARIE FOOTSTOOL IN LIGHT PINK 

CORDUROY, CULT FURNITURE. 

WWW.CULTFURNITURE.COM 


Walsall Wood 

✓ Friendly in-home service ✓ Options for every budget ✓ Price includes measuring & fitting 

YOUR LOCAL BLINDS, 

CURTAINS & SHUTTERS 

SPECIALIST 

• I provide expert advice on the 

best window solutions 

• Flexible appointment times 

• Blinds & curtains tailor-made 

here in the UK 

“My local advisor helped me 

find a blind to fit my budget. 

The service was second to none”. 

Laura Jackson, customer 

• Ask me about multi-blind 

discounts 

• I won’t be beaten on price* 

• Electric blinds available 

ROLLERS | ROMANS | VERTICALS | VENETIANS | CURTAINS | SHUTTERS | WOODEN BLINDS 

Call me for a free in-home appointment: 

Michael Holdway 07949383322 

*Based on the same spec, size & levels of service. 

DUPLOCEM IN WHITE 

CALIBRATED TO 20MM 

605MM X 605MM 

EUROPA WAY, LICHFIELD, WS14 9TZ 

01543 440000 TIPPERS.COM 

MON-FRI 

7:30AM - 5:00PM 

SATURDAY 

8:00AM - 2:00PM

LUCY MARSH BESPOKE POWDER 

PINK MERINO THROW, 

WWW.LUCYMARSHINTERIORS.COM 

£175 £POA 

ALDBURY SHAKER STYLE KITCHEN, KESSELER 

BIRMINGHAM. WWW.KESSELERBIRMINGHAM.CO.UK 

£595 

MARSEILLE FABRIC DINING TWO SEATER 

BENCH IN WHEAT, PEPPERMILL INTERIORS, 

BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK. 


£195 

£1,299 

PAIR OF BRONTE VELVET DINING CHAIRS IN BRUSH STROKE BEIGE, 

PEPPERMILL INTERIORS, BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK. 


EICHHOLTZ INGER OTTOMAN IN 

BOUCLE CREAM, SWEETPEA & WILLOW. 

WWW.SWEETPEAANDWILLOW.COM 

£49 

FERM LIVING OFF WHITE DESERT 

OUTDOOR CUSHION, ROSE & GREY. 

WWW.ROSEANDGREY.CO.UK 

RAKU SQUARE WHITE TILES, £42.95/SQM, 

WALLS AND FLOORS. 

WWW.WALLSANDFLOORS.CO.UK 


MARILYN BLUSH PINK VELVET ARMCHAIR, 

£645, AUDENZA. WWW.AUDENZA.COM 

BLUSH PINK ROUND PINTUCK CUSHION, 

£17.50, THE WISTERIA TREE. 

WWW.THEWISTERIATREE.CO.UK 

SAN JOSE BRILLIANT WHITE SHUTTER 

BLINDS, FROM £82, BLINDS2GO. 

WWW.BLINDS-2GO.CO.UK 

CHERISH SOFT PINK FAUX FUR THROW, £95, 

THE FRENCH BEDROOM CO. 

WWW.FRENCHBEDROOMCOMPANY.CO.UK

I N T E R I O R S 

Walk 

the line 

A firm favourite come springtime, crisp blue and white 

stripes have been used in interiors for time immemorial to 

evoke a touch of coastal charm. But for 2022, stripes are 

a-changing, 

This season’s stripes are supercharged, taking on a bolder 

aesthetic with brighter colourways and textural contrasts. 

Fun stripes in a litany of rainbow-inspired hues add a 

playful touch to your decor scheme, while at the other end 

of the colour spectrum, monochrome patterns create a 

striking style statement. 

If you’re feeling brave, choose a wall and go stripe happy 

for a full-on injection of fun, then tie your scheme together 

with matching fabrics and accessories. Stripe overload? No 

such thing, we say! 

Stripes can be really effective in smaller spaces, so why 

not unleash your stripy side in the bathroom? Create a 

complete black-and-white colour scheme to enhance your 

lines and make a real impact in the smallest room of the 

house. 

And remember, stripes don’t just mean horizontal and 

vertical; go diagonal with chevron patterns, or throw away 

the rule book with wavy stripes. 

LAS SALINAS THROW, £55, WEAVER GREEN. 

WWW.WEAVERGREEN.COM 

£45 

LARGE BLACK AND WHITE STRIPE AGAVE 

PLANTER, CIELSHOP. WWW.CIELSHOP.COM 

£95 

£450 

£69.50 

ORANGE NUDE PRINT COTTON CUSHION, 

LIME LACE. WWW.LIMELACE.CO.UK 

MARBLE STRIPED CHOPPING BOARD, CIELSHOP. 

WWW.CIELSHOPINTERIORS.COM 

PHAROS TEA SET, MICUCCI INTERIORS. 

WWW.MICUCCI.CO.UK 

22 


0121 308 6404 

info@pawpounders.com 

www.pawpounders.com 

NEW 

Puppy Play Centre Opening 

Opening Times 

Mon-Fri: 7:30am-6:30pm 

Sat: 8am-1:30pm 

First dedicated Puppy Play Centre to open 

in the Midlands 

Confidence and socialisation life skills 

Toilet training, indoor heated rest areas and 

outdoor play 

Early learning experiences with other puppies 

Fully qualified staff, all trained by qualified Animal 

Behaviourist and Channel 4’s puppy training expert 

Hannah Molloy (BSc) Hons 

Lowest ratio in the country of puppies to staff 4:1 

Customers able to partake in puppy development 

“We want to ensure that puppies get the very best start in life and our exceptional new Play Centre offers 

rich learning opportunities in warm and nurturing environment.’ 

- Nick Parkinson, Founder of Pawpounders 

FREE no obligation design service with our kitchen specialists 

16 -18 Britannia Way Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield WS14 9UY • 01543 263340 

info@lichfieldkitchensandbedrooms.com • www.lichfieldkitchensandbedrooms.com 

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Sat 9.30am - 12.30pm 12.30pm – 4.00pm by appointment only.

£59.95 

BLOOM PENDANT LAMP, 

PEPPER SQ LTD. WWW.PEPPERSQ.COM 

£395 

FAB HAB CANCUN OUTDOOR 

RUG IN CANDY, CUCKOOLAND. 

WWW.CUCKOOLAND.COM 

£349 

BLACK AND WHITE STRIPED CABINET, 

WEBB & GRAY. WWW.WEBBANDGRAY.COM 

£75 

£255 

£18 

CAROUSEL CONFETTI SUNBRELLA QUILTED 

HAMMOCK, SLEEPY HAMMOCK. 

WWW.SLEEPYHAMMOCK.CO.UK 

FLUORO ABSTRACT, A2 PRINT, BLACK FRAME, 

CULT FURNITURE. WWW.CULTFURNITURE.COM 

GREEN SCANDI STRIPE CUSHION, MINT & MAY. 

WWW.MINTANDMAY.CO.UK 

SEVILLE RAINBOW OAK LAMINATE, 

£9.45/SQM, FLOORING MOUNTAIN. 

WWW.FLOORINGMOUNTAIN.CO.UK 

CECIL PRINT, £400, LEIGH BAGLEY. 

WWW.LEIGHBAGLEY.COM

RAFFIA STRIPE CUSHION COVER, £32, 

FABLY. WWW.FABLY.CO.UK 

MONOCHROME STRIPE WALLPAPER, £35 PER ROLL, 

LUXEOLOGY. WWW.LUXEOLOGY.CO.UK 

SWAY WALLPAPER IN TOMATO, £79, FIONA 

HOWARD. WWW.FIONAHOWARD.COM 

AZTEC CHINDI RUG IN RED, £94.99, WALTON & CO. 

WWW.WALTONSHOP.CO.UK 

MONOCHROME STRIPE WALLPAPER, £189.99, 

THE WOOD VENEER HUB. 

WWW.THEWOODVENEERHUB.CO.UK

I N T E R I O R S 

Wall of sound 

SUTTON COLDFIELD GP DR ATIF GHAFFAR HAS TURNED HIS PASSION FOR AUDIO-VISUAL 

TECHNOLOGY INTO AN EXCITING BUSINESS VENTURE, AS AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS 

PHOTOS BY FRASER MITCHELL @FMITCHELLPHOTOGRAPHY 

ATIF GHAFFAR RUNS ZEBRA HOME CIINEMA 

Movies and music have long been passions for Atif 

Ghaffar. A GP by day, the Sutton Coldfield dad loves 

nothing more than settling down to watch the latest 

film releases or TV dramas with his family. Music 

is also a huge part of his life, and Atif counts DJing 

among his hobbies. 

And after spending 20 years researching, auditioning 

and buying the best HI-FI and home cinema systems, 

Atif has now turned his hobby into a business venture. 

“I’ve been an audio-visual enthusiast for 20-odd 

years; I’ve always loved movies and music, and right 

from the early days of Dolby Pro Logic and surround 

sound systems, I’ve always wanted to replicate the 

cinema experience at home,” says Atif. 

“As time has gone on and technology has developed 

and improved, what you find now is that you can have 

a new experience at home which far surpasses what 

you can experience in the commercial cinema. 

“The cinema has definitely got a really important role, 

particularly in bringing communities together, where 

everyone has the same experience of watching the 

latest movies; it’s a collective emotive moment and 

you can’t replace that. But when you want to replicate 

those moments in the privacy of your own home with 

your family and friends, watching your favourite films 

and shows, with the right equipment you can have a 

fantastic experience instead of something average or 

mediocre.” 

Atif says that he is, first and foremost, a consumer and 

enthusiast. With Zebra Home Cinema, his main aims 

are to combine audio-visual excellence with value for 

money. 

“I’ve spent years demoing other systems up and down 

the country as an enthusiast,” he says. “As a hobbyist 

you get to play with all these different systems, and 

it’s really a celebration of the engineering in this 

26 


THE STUNNING STEINWAY 

LYNGDORF SPEAKERS 

particular field. As you discover the different systems 

available at different price points, there becomes a 

yearning to pursue excellence.” 

While Atif is happy to wax lyrical about the prowess 

of each system he installs, the only way to get a true 

feel, he says, is to have a listen for yourself. So he has 

dedicated several rooms in his Little Aston home to 

creating demos of the various systems he offers. 

“What I’ve found over the years is that there are lots 

of installers who will install home cinemas and media 

rooms but they don’t have a demonstration facility, 

or they haven’t experienced the products that they’re 

putting into a client’s home.” 

And he enjoys nothing more than inviting potential 

customers and fellow audio-visual enthusiasts over 

to take a listen. Here at J’AIME, we were happy to 

oblige. 

“The nice thing about bringing people here for demos 

is that they don’t need to be tech-savvy or know the 

ins and outs of the engineering side; you’ll just be able 

to hear and feel the difference.” 

From the rousing rock sensibilities of Bohemian 

Rhapsody to a hauntingly beautiful cover rendition of 

The Weeknd’s hit Blinded By the Lights, every note is 

pitched to perfection, creating an impressive wall 

of sound which can truly make you feel like you’re 

at a live performance, not listening to a stream in 

your living room. 

The system in question is Atif ’s flagship sound 

system, the stunning Steinway Lyngdorf. 

Designed, developed, and manufactured in 

Denmark, Steinway Lyngdorf sound systems are 

the only systems on the planet that are qualified 

to be manufactured in partnership with Steinway 

and Sons, makers of the world’s finest pianos 

for more than 165 years. Their collaboration 

with Peter Lyngdorf, one of the most forwardthinking 

audio innovators of our time, has created 

a gold standard for audio systems. As well 

as offering sublime audio, the beautifully 

designed speakers are artistically designed to 

create a stunning addition to any room. 

The second demonstration is a small yet 

stylish and perfectly formed system packing 

a sonic punch which belies its size. Also by 

the Lyngdorf brand, this represents the 

more affordable end of Atif ’s premium 

offerings, with a complete system starting 

from around the £3,000 mark. 

For a complete audio-visual experience, 

the piece de resistance of Atif ’s setups is 

the dedicated cinema room. This stunning 

conversion showcases exactly how a home 

setup can replicate - and even surpass - the cinema 

experience. 

Combining in-wall and on-wall speakers from 

Miller and Kreisel, based on their top-of-the-line 

S300 series coupled with their incredibly powerful, 

X12 subwoofers, and a Lyngdorf MP-60 processor 

alongside seven Lyngdorf SDA2400 digital power 

amps, the audio quality achieved is simply superb. 

Add in the choice of 77-inch OLED TV or the 

impressive three-metre motorised projector, and it’s 

heaven for cinema fans. 

“It’s a multi-billion dollar industry where fantastic 

directors of photography and brilliant people working 

in audio, who are all working really hard to bring us 

the very best content,” says Atif. “When you watch on 

a laptop or listen with a sound bar, you’re not getting 

all of the stuff they’ve recorded in its original quality. 

The sound that is there is amazing, but you need the 

right equipment to make the most of it.” 

For more details or to book a demonstration, 

get in touch with Zebra Home Cinema at 

www.zebrahomecinema.com or call 0121 405 

1007. 

THE IMPRESSIVE HOME CINEMA ROOM 


27

G A R D E N I N G 

Say hello to spring 

BYRON LEWIS FROM LICHFIELD GARDEN CENTRE, TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT 

WE NEED TO BE DOING IN THE GARDEN NOW SPRING HAS SPRUNG 

‘Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder 

where the Birdies is…!’ 

Yes spring is pretty much here, and with it 

the start of the gardening season. There’s 

lots to do in the garden, from giving the 

lawn the first cut of the year to planting 

seeds, bulbs and almost everything else! 

Easy seeds include hardy annuals - these can 

be sown now directly outside into borders 

that have been dug over and levelled. Try 

classics such as cornflower, nigella and 

godetia for a riot of colour later in the 

summer. These are good choices to get the 

kids involved in gardening, as they don’t 

require too much work - just watch out for 

the birds which can peck the seedlings. 

Solid spring favourite shrubs include 

camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons, all with 

fantastic coloured blooms ranging from pink and red 

to white and purple. If you’ve not got much space in 

the garden, consider using them in large pots on the 

patio; but be sure to use the correct compost. These 

are all acid lovers, so plant into ericaceous compost 

for glossy leaves and better blooms. 

With the predicted rise in food prices there’s never 

been a better time to start growing your own. 

Potatoes, garlic, onions and a whole host of vegetable 

SHRUBS SUCH AS MAGNOLIAS 

ARE SOLID SPRING FAVOURITES 

IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON 

GROWINNG YOUR OWN VEG, 

NOW IS THE TIME TO START 

seedlings are now available in the garden centre, so if 

you caught the gardening bug during the pandemic 

and dabbled with growing your own food, you can 

carry on in 2022; your food will be fresher and taste 

better too! More tender veg such as runner beans are 

best left until the worst of the frost and wind is over, 

and hold fire on putting tomato plants outside until 

May; they are fine in greenhouses and conservatories 

though. 

If your spring bulbs are almost over, remember not 

to chop off the leaves - you can cut the flower stalks 

down, but allow leaves to die back naturally, putting 

food back into the bulb for next spring. 

We recommend adding a few handfuls 

of bonemeal around your bulb clumps 

too, to enhance flowering in the future. 

Bedding plants will shortly be ready to 

take their place but don’t be tempted 

to plant too early - it only takes a night 

with a sharp frost to kill them off! 

Byron Lewis runs Lichfield Garden 

Centre at Curborough Countryside 

Centre, Lichfield. 

Call 01543 254306, visit 

www.lichfieldgardencentre.co.uk 

or find Lichfield Garden Centre on 

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 


tatlowcarpets 

& flooring 

Quality flooring at affordable prices 

Abingdon, Adam’s, Associated Weavers, Axminster, Brintons, Brockways, 

Cormar, Crucial Trading, Penthouse, Ulsters, Karndean & Project Floors 

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Furniture moved ✔ Our own regular fitters ✔ 

Lichfield Garden Centre 

Inspired Gardening 

Easter is on the way... 

Get your garden ready for spring 

Grow your own Vegetable Plants, 

Herbs, Fruit Bushes & Trees - all 

now in stock & ready for planting. 

Enjoy fresh, tasty crops this 

summer! 

Hanging Basket Refill Service 

now available - let us create 

perfect baskets & pots for you 

...we won't tell the neighbours! 

Coach Trips 2022 - They are back! 

Highgrove Wednesday 11th May £60 

RHS Bridgewater Gardens Saturday 3rd Sept £49 

Raymond Blanc's 'Manoir' Thursday 15th Sept £329 

Malvern Autumn Show Saturday 24th Sept £55 

Brand: Karndean 

Range: Art Select – Parquet 

Colour: Blond Oak AP01 

Looking for inspiration for your 

home, get the best advice from 

the team at Tatlow’s. 

@Tatlowcarpets 



Please see our website for further details 

www.tatlowcarpets.co.uk 

Tel: 01543 264766 

Open to the public. Mon-Fri: 9.00am - 5.00pm. Sat: 10.00am - 4.00pm 

Unit 4, Europa Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield, Staffs, WS14 9TZ 

Don't miss out - seats selling fast!! 

Garden Club Members get 10% Off all prices shown - 

join up for a one-off £10 fee. 

Coaches depart direct from Lichfield. 

More details on all our trips are on the website. 

Find us at Curborough Countryside Centre (off 

Eastern Avenue), Lichfield. 

Postcode for your Sat Nav : WS13 8ES. 

Solar Lighting now available 

Get your garden ready for 

those long summer nights 

& garden parties... 

See our new ranges for 2022! 

Open 7 days a week - see our website for 

updated times. 

Telephone : 01543 254306

F O O D & D R I N K 

Chocs away 

IT’S THE ONE TIME OF YEAR WHEN CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE 

FAYRE, AND SENDING THE KIDS ON A JAUNT AROUND THE GARDEN IN SEARCH OF HIDDEN 

SWEET DELIGHTS IS A MUST. HERE WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE TASTIEST CHOCOLATEY 

EASTER TREATS AROUND, FROM FIRM FAMILY FAVOURITES TO THE GROWN-UPS ONLY 

INDULGENCES WE’RE HOPING TO HUNT DOWN COME APRIL 17 

£25.95 

£29.99 

BOOJA BOOJA LARGE DECORATED 

EGG WITH HAZELNUT CRUNCH 

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES. 

FINE PINK CHOCOLATE EASTER EGG WITH PINK MARC 

DE CHAMPAGNE TRUFFLES, CHARBONNEL ET WALKER 

EASTER CHICK LETTERBOX BISCUIT, 

BISCUITEERS BAKING 

£4.99 

£69.95 

CHOCOVIAR PISTACHIO WHITE 

CHOCOLATE EASTER EGG, VENCHI 

£10.95 

CHOCEUR CHOCO CHANGER 

SALTED CARAMEL EGG, ALDI 

EXTRA THICK YOU CRACK 

ME UP EGG, HOTEL CHOCOLAT 

£30 

£14.95 

EGG AND CHICKS ARTISAN EASTER 

CHOCOLATES, HARVEY NICHOLS 


£8.95 

£29 

OVAL CHOCOLATE MINI 

EGG TIN, BUTLERS 

HAPPY CHEE-ASTER HAMPER, 

CARTWRIGHT AND BUTLER 

LIMITED EDITION EGGS WITH LEGS 

DUO INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED BY 

CERAMIC ARTIST MARY ROSE YOUNG, 

HARVEY NICHOLS 

£160 

£5.99 

PATISSERIE OSTRICH EGG, 

HOTEL CHOCOLAT 

£85 

MOSER ROTH BELGIAN MILK AND DARK 

CHOCOLATE ALMOND EGG, ALDI 

JOE & SEPH’S CHOCOLATE 

POPCORN EASTER EGG. 

£18.95 

ROCOCO SEA SALT MILK 

CHOCOLATE EASTER EGG 

£34.95 

£35 

£11.95 

£9.95 

MILK CHOCOLATE HONEYCOMB 

EASTER EGG, COCOBA 

MEDIUM EASTER CHOCOLATES, 

BISCUITEERS BAKING 

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CANDLE 

(CALORIE FREE), CURBOROUGH 

GIFT SHOP AT CURBOROUGH 

COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE 


31


Worship in the woods 

FOOD, FIRE AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS ARE THE ORDER OF THE DAY AT 

WORSHIP WORTH EXPERIENCES, AS KATY EDGINGTON FINDS OUT FROM 

CO-FOUNDER ALISON WORSHIP 

Originally from Yorkshire, 

Alison Worship moved to 

Staffordshire in 2014 to take 

up a teaching position in 

Rugeley. After several years in 

a secondary school, she now 

runs cooking classes and creates 

bespoke outdoor cooking 

experiences and events for 

guests of all ages and from all 

walks of life. 

A qualified food technology 

teacher, Alison runs Worship 

Worth Experiences alongside 

her husband Tim from their 

family home in Canwell. The 

business combines her passion 

ALISON WORSHIP RUNS 

WORSHIP WORTH 

EXPERIENCES 

for teaching and vast experience within the catering 

industry with his job as a tree surgeon and their 

shared love of food and the outdoors. 

“I’ve worked in food from the word go,” says Alison. 

“I’ve worked in fast food restaurants and coffee shops 

- Costa, Starbucks, Caffè Nero - and in contract 

catering for Sodexo. I worked in catering for the 

department stores Allders and House of Fraser, and 

also ran catering on motorway services.” 

Having always enjoyed training staff in her corporate 

MAKING YOUR OWN PIZZA 

IS A FIRM FAVOURITE 

roles, in her mid-30s Alison headed back to 

university to retrain as a teacher. A food technology 

PGCE was the obvious choice, but after having 

her son, full-time teaching was no longer right for 

her. Tim suggested going self-employed and they 

landed on the idea of opening a cookery school. Tim 

built the outdoor kitchen and almost every wooden 

building on their grounds using locally sourced wood. 

The wood burned on-site is from trees he’s felled. 

For Alison, it’s important to get children cooking 

from an early age and to teach them where their food 

comes from. She offers cooking lessons for 

ages three to 16, with regular Saturday 

morning classes in term time and seasonal 

one-off sessions during school holidays. 

Children can cook along in the outdoor 

kitchen and learn everything from social 

skills and independence to time planning, 

as well as gaining kitchen confidence. 

“So many times when I was teaching I 

would show children vegetables or ask 

them where this meat came from and 

they genuinely wouldn’t have a clue,” 

says Alison. “That’s a real worry. It’s a 

cycle; if you come from a home where 


your parents don’t cook, you are 

potentially less likely to cook. 

“People make unhealthy choices 

thinking it’s easier, but cooking 

from scratch doesn’t have to be 

complicated. I find that children 

are much more likely to try 

something if they’ve made it 

themselves. They might not eat all 

of it, but they will try it. It inspires 

them to want to go and do more. 

The cooking school helps the 

parents, too. They come with 

their child and they learn as well.” 

There’s a healthy mix of sweet 

and savoury recipes in Alison’s 

store cupboard. One week the 

children will be making chicken fajitas, the next 

lemon and honey flapjacks, and the week after piripiri 

burgers and roast vegetables. 

“I always try to keep it fresh and varied, and look at 

skill sets, so the kids are building their knowledge but 

also their confidence,” says Alison. “Confidence can 

be a barrier for parents, too - if you’re not confident 

in the kitchen why would you entertain doing it with 

your child? Then also there’s the mess and the fact 

that your child doesn’t listen to you - mine doesn’t 

anyway! 

“People might think they can’t go to cooking school 

because it’s fancy, but it’s not. What we make is good, 

nutritious food that you can do at home. I’m not a 

chef and I don’t pretend to be - it’s about teaching 

people how to cook, do it their way, and develop 

their skills. We keep it as simple as possible.” 

As an educator trained to teach inside, Alison 

says the difference in the children working outside 

GUESTS CAN COMBINE THE COOKERY SCHOOL WITH A 

STAY IN THE ONSITE WOODCUTTERS REST CABIN 

is amazing to see. In her eyes, the sterility and 

discipline of the classroom affects how children learn 

and what they do. 

“I think learning outdoors will be a huge part in the 

next chapter of education,” she adds. “University 

of Birmingham sent some PGCE students here to 

experience outdoor learning, and there is definitely 

already a big move towards using outdoor settings. 

Everyone loves being in the fresh air. The kids turn 

up in their wellies, do some cooking, go and play 

in the woodland, then their food is ready. It’s much 

more relaxed and social, and the parents seem less 

stressed as well.” 

As well as getting children cooking outside school, 

Alison is working alongside Steethay Primary School 

to deliver lessons on diet, nutrition and healthy 

eating along with practical cooking from pre-school 

up to KS4. And for those who’ve chosen to educate 

their children themselves, she runs a home education 

group on Wednesday mornings. There are even 

plans in the pipeline to tutor 

GCSE Food Technology for older 

group members in September. 

“It is a different kind of teaching, 

which is what I love,” Alison says. 

“Now, I’m teaching on so many 

different levels, from the little 

ones to more mature people to 

different areas of the community. 

It’s a different knowledge set for 

each of those groups, which you 

don’t use as a teacher in a school. 

I love the freshness of meeting 

lots of people and hopefully 

making a difference.” 

Another important part of this is 


33

getting out and about in the 

community at events hosted 

by Nurture Community 

CIC, where Alison shares 

what she knows about food 

- including budgeting, meal 

planning and cooking skills 

- with people who might 

not necessarily come to the 

cookery school. 

But all ages and abilities are 

welcome at Worship Worth 

Experiences, where there are 

plenty of opportunities for 

families and friends to make, 

eat, and share food around 

the pizza oven, the barbecue, 

and the campfire. 

“The shared experience and the social aspect is 

important - and I think we’ve lost some of that, 

sitting in front of the TV eating our food,” Alison 

remarks. “Our family campfire cooking session is 

a good example. We do it out in the woodland and 

we’ll make a meal over the fire - usually a casserole, 

bread and potatoes. We show you how to manage 

the fire, so if you go camping or even just like being 

around a fire you’ve got those skills.” 

Their outdoor wood-fired pizza classes have been 

popular, even throughout the winter months. Family 

sessions run every other month on Saturdays, but the 

THE COOKERY SCHOOL FOCUSES 

ON COOKING OUTDOORS 

couple also host evening sessions for adults and days 

out for corporate groups. You’ll have the chance to 

make your own dough, choose your own toppings, 

create your pizza and bake it in the oven before 

tucking in. 

At regular ‘School of BBQ’ days, you can learn the 

basics about wood, fuel, types of barbecue and cook 

times. Alison shares different techniques plus insider 

knowledge on rubs and marinades and how to apply 

them to meats, vegetables and fish. Then you make 

your own lunch on the barbecue. 

“People tend to either overcook or undercook 

food on the barbecue, so they’re scared and just 

stick to burgers and sausages,” she says. “This is 

an opportunity to up your game, and it’s a real 

experience in the outdoor kitchen.” 

And if all that’s whetted your appetite, you might be 

interested to know that Alison and Tim also cater 

for bespoke events like birthday and engagement 

parties. They even have their own Airbnb on-site - 

the Woodcutter’s Rest - a log cabin built by Tim with 

a private patio and hot tub where you can combine 

your stay with a wood-fired pizza experience or the 

family campfire cooking, for example. 

“People want experiences,” Alison says. “Because 

of Covid, they’re looking for the alternative, and we 

very much are that. We’re out there in all weathers. 

You’re having such a good time that you don’t really 

feel it. 

“What we do is not just about the cooking - it’s 

about the experience, the vibe, where we are and the 

woodland, and our passion for what we do. We just 

want to share that and teach!” 

Find out more and find links to book at 

www.worshipworthexperiences.co.uk 

34 


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A fancy feast 

MASTERCHEF: THE PROFESSIONALS FINALIST LIAM ROGERS SHARES 

A DINNER PARTY FAVOURITE AHEAD OF HIS POP-UP AT THYME 

KITCHEN THIS MONTH 

Liam says: “Throwing a dinner party or fancy something different for a Sunday lunch? I love to cook this 

dish for my friends and family - it’s a belter and really easy to do. Please tag me in your pictures 

@chef_liam_rogersss and happy cooking!” 

Roasted Halibut, Piquillo Pepper, 

Fennel, Black Olive and Courgette 

INGREDIENTS - SERVES FOUR 

4 x 150g piece of halibut 

1 tin of Piquillo peppers 

10g sherry vinegar 

salt 

vegetable oil 

4 fennel bulbs 

4 courgettes 

4 baby courgettes 

100g black olives 

2 lemons, zested 

75g capers 

200g shallots 

300ml Pernod 

250g butter, unsalted 

Roast the halibut fillets in a pan until golden, turn 

over and after 15 seconds remove from the pan 

and rest. 

For the piquillo pepper purée, take a 415g tin 

of piquillo peppers and roast in a pan until the 

moisture is cooked off. Blend with 10g sherry 

vinegar and a pinch of salt. 

Prep one fennel bulbinto quarters and slowly 

simmer in a pan of salted water until soft for 

approx 12 minutes. Remove and roast in the oven 

on one side of the fennel for 15 minutes. 

Slice the courgette into small pieces and roast 

in a pan with a pinch of salt until the moisture 

has been cooked off, which will take around 20 

minutes, then blend until smooth. 

Half the baby courgettes and roast on one side 

until golden. Dress with extra virgin oil and 

Maldon sea salt. 

For the tapenade, chop the black olives and 

capers. Dress with extra vinegar and lemon zest. 

For the fennel butter sauce, slice the shallots and 

remaining fennel and cook until soft. Add Pernod 

and reduce by half. Strain out the fennel and 

shallot, add the liquid back to the pan and slowly 

whisk in cold butter until thick and glossy. Finish 

with lemon. 


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F E AT U R E 

Old-fashioned 

St George’s Day fun 

ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY READY TO GET STUCK INTO SOME FUN ST GEORGE’S DAY 

CELEBRATIONS, MEDIEVAL-STYLE? THE COUNTDOWN IS ON AT TAMWORTH CASTLE! 

Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, 

Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts 

and Events team have only been 

able to offer a virtual programme of 

events and activities for the past two 

years. But in 2022 the team are keen 

to return to the grounds of the Castle 

in-person. They have pulled together 

a jam-packed programme of free live 

entertainment for St George’s Day on 

Saturday, April 23 - and they’re even 

hoping to exceed previous recordbreaking 

crowds. 

Tamworth’s popular St George’s Day 

extravaganza will this year feature 

an exciting new line-up of medievalthemed 

activities and amusements taking over the 

castle grounds from 10am to 5pm. 

Plus, all the family festival favourites that have led 

to the event becoming well-known up and down the 

country will be there too: from jousting and archery 

to a living history camp, a walk-about comedy with 

JOUSTING IS ALL PART OF 

THE ST GEORGE’S DAY FUN 

SEE ST GEORGE AND THE INFAMOUS 

DRAGON AT TAMWORTH CASTLE 

medieval grave diggers, to food and other stalls, 

fairground rides and children’s activities. 

Although St George never visited England, his 

reputation for virtue and holiness spread across 

Europe and since the 9th century his feast day has 

been celebrated here on April 23, which was possibly 

the date of his martyrdom. After 

the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, 

St George’s Day became one of 

the most important feast days in 

the English calendar, although 

the St George cross wasn’t used 

to represent the country until the 

reign of Henry VIII. 

The story of England’s patron 

saint and how he battled the 

legendary dragon is as iconic 

today as that red and white cross. 

It’s told that St George rode into 

Silene in North Africa to free the 

city from a dragon who had a taste 

for humans, but that story actually 


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post-dates the real George by several hundred years. 

However, you shouldn’t let that put you off coming 

along to meet St George and his new animatronic 

rival! Soaring at 3.5m long and 2.3m high, the 

roaring and tail swinging dragon will enthral children 

and adults alike, bringing the story to life as he roams 

around the castle grounds. 

The Grand Medieval Joust is also back for 2022 

by popular demand. Festival-goers will be able to 

watch the action unfold as competing knights on 

horseback take to the main arena to show off their 

jousting skills. Fun displays are guaranteed, full of 

laughs and action, trick riding and stunts, with skilled 

performances from stunning horses and knights in 

shining armour. Throughout the day knights will 

also demonstrate the variety of weapons and combat 

methods used during medieval skirmishes. 

Other entertainment and activities to keep the 

whole family busy include workshops, displays and 

a medieval encampment 

featuring replica equipment 

and living history 

demonstrations of how 

everyday people would have 

lived during the period. 

First held in 2008, the 

free annual St George’s 

Day festival is one of the 

highlights of the town’s 

calendar of outdoor events 

organised by Tamworth 

Borough Council’s Arts and 

Events team. It’s set to draw 

thousands of visitors from 

across the country. 

“The St George’s Day 

THERE WILL BE ALL KINDS OF 

MEDIEVAL ENTERTAINMENT 

festival is one of the most 

popular events on our calendar 

and we are delighted to be 

able to bring this day back to 

the Castle Grounds after a 

very challenging two years of 

restrictions,” says Councillor 

Robert Pritchard, Deputy 

Leader of Tamworth Borough 

Council. 

“The Arts and Events team is 

always working hard to ensure 

it continues to grow and offer 

new attractions each year. With 

so much going on throughout 

the event, it’s easy to keep the 

whole family entertained for 

several hours with a variety of medieval-themed fun 

and games.” 

The day also offers a great opportunity to explore 

Tamworth Castle and its history, including their 

impressive display of real and replica items from the 

Staffordshire Hoard. 

There’s plenty of other Easter fun taking place inside 

Tamworth Castle from April 12 to 24, including a 

Dragon Egg Hunt and Dragon Charming activities. 

Everyone is invited to learn how to track and identify 

a dragon from its footprints and find out more about 

dragon healthcare, plus spot dragon eggs as you 

explore the castle to take home a little prize. Visitors 

are advised to check Tamworth Castle’s website for 

opening times and admission prices at 

www.tamworthcastle.co.uk 

Check out the full programme for the St George’s 

Day festival by visiting 

www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk 


Explore 1,000 years of history 

Tamworth Castle is a stunning example of an intact 

Norman motte and bailey castle, surrounded by beautiful 

grounds which now hosts a brand new playground too. 

Come inside and explore our history. We have lots of 

interactive displays for young and old alike. 

We even have a smartphone app - Tamworth AR 

Explorer - which really brings our history to life! 

New state-of-the-art interactive exhibition 

The top floor of Tamworth Castle has been transformed 

into a new exhibition which brings our fascinating Anglo- 

Saxon history to life, including the role of our famous 

warrior queen, Aethelflaed, and themes of battle, 

kingship and warrior culture in Anglo-Saxon Mercia. 

See the Staffordshire Hoard 

Our new exhibition also includes a mead hall where you 

can see items from the famous Staffordshire Hoard - the 

largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found. 

Dragon Egg Hunt & Dragon Charming 

Tuesday 12 - Sunday 24 April 2022 

Battle and Tribute is supported by The National Lottery Heritage 

Fund, as well as Tamworth Borough Council,the Friends of Tamworth 

Castle and the Arts Council. Staffordshire Hoard photo credit: 

Birmingham Museums Trust on behalf of Birmingham City Council 

and The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent. 

St George’s Day Extravaganza! 

See St. George, the dragon, medieval joust, encampment, games, workshops and more... 

FREE 

EVENT 

Saturday 23 April - Tamworth Castle Grounds 

www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk 

Tamworth Castle Grounds, Holloway, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7NA

F E AT U R E 

Poetry in motion 

WRITER AND FOUNDER OF NEW LOCAL INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER FAWN PRESS, SCARLETT 

WARD-BENNETT SHARES HER INSPIRATIONS AND MOTIVATIONS WITH KATY EDGINGTON 

September 2021 saw the launch of a new 

independent press in Staffordshire, founded with 

the aim of publishing beautiful books of exceptional 

poetry. Fawn Press was born from founder Scarlett 

Ward-Bennett’s passionate love of books and 

literature, her belief that poetry has the power to 

change lives through the connection between writer 

and reader, and her goal of publishing new and 

under-represented poets. 

Scarlett is a poet first and foremost, with her first 

collection ‘Ache’ released with Verve Poetry Press in 

2019. However, as someone who has always been 

fascinated with the publishing industry, she wanted 

to look beyond bringing poetry into the world by 

writing her own books. Her ultimate goal in setting 

up the press, she tells me, was to be a portal through 

which poets would materialise their poetry, and to 

facilitate a platform for their voices. 

“I love poetry, and I wanted to be in a position where 

FAWN PRESS FOUNDER 

SCARLETT WARD-BENNETT 

I could help bring that into the world, almost like 

a poetry midwife. The big UK publishing houses 

have historically had issues with diversity: the 

report Rethinking Diversity in Publishing is just one 

resource that supports this. I wanted to have this in 

the forefront of my mind when going forward.” 

Some of Scarlett’s favourite poets are Fiona Benson, 

Isabelle Galleymore, Ella Duffy, Seán Hewitt, 

Paige Lewis and Kei Miller. The work of other 

contemporary publishers is also encouraging her as 

she builds Fawn Press’ catalogue and reputation. 

“They all seem to explore issues of society and 

human emotion through the lens of nature, which I 

adore. In terms of publishers, I adore Nine Arches 

Press. If it has their stamp on it, you don’t need to be 

familiar with the poet. That’s the beauty of building 

a really strong brand, and is a place I’m aiming to get 


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to help diagnose on the day. We may also suggest injections and physiotherapy 

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to. I also think Penned In The Margins are printing 

really exciting stuff right now!” 

The Midlands is home to a rich and vibrant 

publishing community, with Scarlett citing The 

Emma Press, Verve, Offa’s Press, Nine Arches 

Press and Ignite Books as just a few of the presses 

that have inspired her. She’s also keen to note that 

they’ve shown her that there will always be room for 

more indie publishers: they are peers, rather than 

competitors. 

“I think it’s a mistake to wait for a ‘gap’ to qualify 

establishing a press, because there are so many doing 

great things already, but to add to that tapestry 

just makes it more varied,” she says. “Actually, as 

‘gatekeepers’ of what gets published, it’s great for the 

health of the poetry scene in general to have as many 

different publishers from different backgrounds as 

possible!” 

As well as being a poet in her own right and 

running Fawn Press, Scarlett facilitates workshops, 

both online and on visits to schools, colleges and 

universities. As a queer, disabled writer, she explores 

a sense of identity in her poetry through the lens of 

her lived experience as a woman in a society that 

often sees that as an inferiority. She has recently had 

poems published in Nine Arches’ Under The Radar 

magazine and fourteen poems anthology, and has 

work featured in Broken Sleep Books’ forthcoming 

Ecopoetry anthology. It hasn’t been all smooth seas 

and plain sailing for Scarlett and her new venture, 

however - far from it, in fact. 

“Apart from the admin of submissions windows and 

the technicalities of learning to design for print, the 

biggest challenge so far that dwarfs anything else 

I’ve had to face was that in February, just months 

before our pamphlet releases, and in the middle of 

WILL PITTAM READ SOME OF HIS 

WORK AT THE FAWN PRESS LAUNCH 

scheduled workshops and visits, I was hospitalised 

with multiple sclerosis,” she explains.” I lost my 

ability to walk, talk, swallow, read and write. 

“That challenge was not just physical, but it made 

me realise how important it is to have events over 

Zoom. I had to cancel numerous events when I got 

out of hospital, but thank god for events such as the 

Saboteur Awards who have maintained accessibility, 

so I’ve been able to feature on a publishing panel. 

As events transition back to in-person, we must 

remember to ensure accessibility.” 

Despite the intricacies of setting up 

a new business and Scarlett’s healthrelated 

setbacks, Fawn Press launched 

their first anthology, Elements: The 

Natural & Supernatural, in January 

this year with an event at Hanley 

Waterstones. The anthology, featuring 

the work of notable local poets, is 

already in its second print run, but that’s 

not all Scarlett’s achieved so far. 

“I could name-drop and say we were 

proud to print Birmingham Poet 

Laureate Casey Bailey and Coventry 

Poet Laureate Emilie Lauren Jones in 

our anthology who are powerhouses 

and incredible both of them, but I want 

to talk about the writers I found in our 


submissions window and though our mentorship 

scheme who are truly talented,” she says. 

“Mikey May is a poet who creates his own zines of 

poetry that are stunning, and we were lucky enough 

to have had him on our mentorship scheme where 

we offered feedback and support, as well as doing an 

IG Live with him (@fawnpress). 

“I was also incredibly excited to be editing Devjani 

Bodepudi’s manuscript with her this year, which I 

think is one to look out for. Sally and Nabeela, our 

pamphlet poets, have poured their hearts and souls 

into their work and I am incredibly proud!” 

So, what are Fawn Press looking for in the poetry 

they choose to publish? Well, the brand ethos has at 

its heart ‘poetry that takes you by the hand and leads 

you into the woods’. 

“I love poems that transport me into a different 

world, show me things I haven’t seen before, and 

force me into perspectives which leave me changed 

when I finish the poem,” Scarlett explains. “I don’t 

like poems that tell me ‘this is what happened and it 

made me feel this way’. I want poems to possess me, 

and show me rather than tell me.” 

Another key tenet of the Press’ ethos is to be a 

platform that welcomes all writers, ‘rejecting elitist 

and pompous attitudes to publishing in favour of an 

inclusive approach, whilst maintaining a high quality 

ELEMENTS IS FAWN PRESS’ FIRST 

ANTHOLOGY RELEASE 

of exceptional writing that excites and inspires’. 

Scarlett is clearly passionate about supporting underrepresented 

poets. 

“I think that we should all as human beings be 

trying to actively dismantle oppressive powers that 

marginalise anyone,” she says. “It’s not enough to be 

anti-racism, -homophobia and -ableism, you must 

reach into the communities.” 

There’s no doubt this commitment is being put into 

action at Fawn Press. Scarlett offered a mentorship 

scheme to a select few poets who showed potential 

in the anthology submissions window, extending that 

invitation to the poetry community. There were no 

forms or any hoops to jump through: if you were 

from a marginalised background, all you had to do 

was email and they would select as many as possible. 

The mentorship scheme included editing and 

feedback, 1:1 Zoom sessions, advice on submissions, 

guidance on writing a cover letter, and also an IG 

Live video using the Press’ social media as a platform 

to share the mentees’ poems. All mentees are also 

invited to live performances arranged by Fawn Press, 

and it’s free for them to submit to future submission 

windows. 

As they are unfunded, the Press charges submission 

fees to cover the labour of reading, but for minority 

poets there are a number of free submission places, 

no questions asked. You can also find multiple 

resources linked from their Instagram profile. 

“I’m really passionate about finding the next new 

voice in poetry,” Scarlett adds. “If I can offer a 

platform to emerging poets, I’m not just helping that 

single individual, I’m adding to the richness of the 

literature pool, and I think that’s very important.” 

2022 looks to be an exciting year for Scarlett, Fawn 

Press, and the writers they’re working with so closely. 

Following on from readings from the Elements 

anthology at Lichfield Literature Festival at the end 

of March, the first wave of pamphlet poets will 

appear in April, with hopes for a launch event at 

Birmingham Waterstones. 

“Then this summer we will have an open submission 

window to find our next pamphlet poets, and later 

in the year we’ll be adding a second book to our 

anthology series, so there will also be a submission 

window open for that too!” adds Scarlett. “I want the 

Fawn Press brand to be recognisable for its elegant 

covers, exceptional poetry, strong company ethos, 

and to be home to stories that truly take you by the 

hand and lead you into the woods.” 

For more details visit www.fawnpress.co.uk and 

find @fawnpress on social media. 


45

W H AT ’ S O N 

What’s on in April? 

FROM COMEDY TO CLASSICAL MUSIC, A HAUNTING PLAY TO AVANT-POP IN A PUMPING STATION, HERE’S 

OUR ROUND-UP OF WHAT’S ON THIS APRIL IN LICHFIELD, SUTTON COLDFIELD, TAMWORTH AND BEYOND 

WHAT: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT 

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME 

WHEN: APRIL 5 TO 16 

The sensational brand-new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat comes to Birmingham Hippodrome 

for two weeks only! 

The multi award-winning show has been performed in more than 80 countries 

worldwide and has become one of the world’s most beloved family musicals. 

With stars from The London Palladium Alexandra Burke, Jason Donovan and Jac 

Yarrow, the show features songs that have gone on to become pop and musical theatre 

classics, including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door To Me, There’s One More 

Angel In Heaven and Go, Go, Go Joseph.Tickets are priced from £30, for more details 

visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com 

WHAT: MADE IN DAGENHAM: THE MUSICAL 

WHERE: TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS 

WHEN: APRIL 6 

Inspired by a true story and based on the hit film, Made in Dagenham is an uplifting 

musical comedy set in 1968 Essex about friendship, love and the importance of 

fighting for what is right.Like millions of other working women, Rita O’Grady is just 

trying to get her husband out of bed and the kids off to school while aiming to clock 

in at the factory on time. But life changes forever when Rita leads her fellow sewing 

machinists into battle against the mighty Ford Motor Company in a fight for equal pay. 

When Rita and the women of Ford Dagenham go on strike, followed by the female 

workforce at Ford Liverpool, the company flies in its American bosses who attempt 

to break worker solidarity. The case goes right to the top of the British government, 

culminating in a history-making speech at the TUC conference. Funny, touching and 

timeless, Made in Dagenham shows how ordinary people can achieve extraordinary 

things when they stand together. 

Tickets for the Gala Opening Night on April 6 cost £25 and include a drink and 

canapés on arrival. For April 7 to 9 shows, the doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm 

start, with tickets priced at £15 or £13. The show does contain adult language. For 

details visit www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk 

WHAT: MARY ROSE BY JM BARRIE 

WHERE: LICHFIELD GARRICK 

WHEN: APRIL 8 AND 9 

Mary Rose is a spellbindingly beautiful ghost story about time, love, loss and hope from 

JM Barrie, creator of Peter Pan. The setting - an old Sussex manor house, standing 

empty and for sale - is haunted by the ghost of a young woman who once lived there. 

37 years earlier, 12 year old Mary Rose went missing on a small island in the Outer 

Hebrides whilst on holiday with her parents. After a month, she mysteriously returned 

unaware that she had been away for any length of time. Years later, Mary Rose, her 

new baby son and young husband return to the same island, where she disappears for 

a second time. After 23 years, when her family have come to terms with her loss, she 

reappears yet again. But her parents, husband and child have all aged whilst Mary 

Rose is just the same as the day she vanished. 

With an ensemble cast of five actors, and featuring original music and traditional 

folk songs, Mary Rose will leave you spellbound by its mystical nature and moved by 

its deepest yearnings to be reunited with the ones we love, and offering a message of 

hope. For more details and tickets visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com 


Refreshingly Different 

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WHAT: THE GREATEST SHOWCASE 

WHERE: THE ALEXANDRA, BIRMINGHAM 


The Greatest Showcase is a three-hour celebration of comedy, 

music and dance from a selection of the UK’s most loved acts. 

Hosted by talented entertainer Kat B, expect a night of non-stop 

action, breathtaking performances and good vibes. 

With comedy from entertainment royalty Richard Blackwood, 

Instagram comedy sensation Spuddz and one of the hardest 

hitting comedians on the stand-up scene right now Shabz 

Kariem (formerly known as Shabba the Comedian), The 

Greatest Showcase also features performances from celebrated 

MOBO and BRIT Award winning R&B and Garage artists 

Shola Ama and Kele Le Roc. 

Plus, you’ll be awed by exhilarating performances from BDO 

World Street Dance champions and multi-award winning dance 

troupe IMD Legion. This is your chance to laugh, feel good and 

be entertained in a venue that will take your breath away. 

For more information visit 

www.atgtickets.com/birmingham 

WHAT: HANDEL’S MESSIAH 

WHERE: LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL 


Two years after the first performance of Handel’s Messiah 

in Dublin in 1742, Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford and 

son of Sir Robert Walpole wrote: “Handel’s oratorios thrive 

abundantly — for my part, they give me an idea of heaven, 

where everybody is to sing whether they have voices or not.” 

Lichfield Cathedral Chorus certainly has no shortage of voices! 

Head along and join them as they mark their return to largescale 

performances after the pandemic and prepare for the 

Easter season with one of the best known and most loved choral 

works of them all. 

Ben Lamb directs the newly formed Lichfield Camerata, the 

massed voices of Lichfield Cathedral Chorus and soloists in 

an unforgettable evening of reflective and uplifting music. The 

performance will start at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £24, £17 

and £10. Visit www.lichfieldcathedralchorus.co.uk 

WHAT: CLUEDO FAMILY MURDER MYSTERY 

EVENING 

WHERE: MOOR HALL HOTEL AND SPA 


Enjoy a family night out solving the ultimate crime of 

‘whodunnit’ with the Cluedo characters at Moor Hall Hotel and 

Spa on Easter Bank Holiday Monday. 

It’s up to you to work out the clues and question the suspects. 

Was it Miss Scarlet in the Library with the candlestick? Or 

maybe it was Professor Plum in the Kitchen with the dagger? 

The case will unravel over a three course dinner prepared by 

Moor Hall’s expert team of chefs - will you be the ones to crack 

the case? 

Arrival is 5pm and the evening is priced at £33 per adult and 

£25 per child, and there is also the option to stay overnight from 

£99 per family (up to two adults and two children) including full 

use of the leisure facilities and a full English breakfast. For more 

details and to book visit www.moorhallhotel.co.uk 


WHAT: PRIVATE PEACEFUL 

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM REP 


The Peaceful brothers, Tommo and Charlie, have a tough rural childhood facing the 

loss of their father, financial hardship and a cruel landlord. 

Their fierce loyalty to each other pulls them through, until one day they both fall for 

the same girl. And then the Great War comes. 

Set against the epic backdrop of WW1, we join 18-year-old Private Tommo Peaceful 

in the trenches as he takes us on a journey through his most cherished memories and 

tells his story of courage, devotion, family and friendship. 

The award-winning Private Peaceful was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, won the 

Red House Children’s Book Award and the Blue Peter Book Award. Acknowledged by 

Michael Morpurgo (War Horse, The Butterfly Lion) as his favourite work, this thrilling 

new ensemble retelling by Simon Reade, directed by Elle While, explores the lengths a 

young soldier will go to to fight for what is right. 

For more details and ticket information visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk 

WHAT: AFTERNOON TEA WITH DISNEY CLASSICS 

WHERE: MOOR HALL HOTEL AND SPA 


Enjoy a delicious afternoon tea at Moor Hall Hotel and Spa, while listening to their 

live choir perform the most iconic songs from some Disney classics on Wednesday, 

April 20. This popular themed afternoon tea is sure to delight guests both young and 

young-at-heart. 

The four-star country house hotel’s skilled chefs will prepare the afternoon tea of 

dreams, served while you sit back as live performers, The Wings Family, entertain you 

with songs and dances from a collection of your Disney favourites. Listen out for tunes 

from a whole host of Disney classics, with some new songs added especially for this 

performance. Arrive at 12.30pm for a 1pm start. 

Tickets for the afternoon tea are priced at £32 per adult and £22 per child. For more 

details and to book, visit www.moorhallhotel.co.uk 

WHAT: ROMESH RANGANATHAN - THE CYNIC’S MIXTAPE 

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME 


Stand-up and TV comedian Romesh is back on tour in 2022 with his new show, The 

Cynic’s Mixtape, his most brutally honest yet. 

Fresh from a fourth series of the Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, A League 

of Their Own, Judge Romesh and The Weakest Link, he’s putting showbiz aside for 

now to deliver a carefully curated selection of all the things he has found unacceptable 

since the last tour. The list includes why trying to save the environment is a scam, why 

none of us are truly free, and his suspicion that his wife is using gluten intolerance to 

avoid sleeping with him. 

Suitable for ages 14+, catch Romesh on one of four dates this April at Birmingham 

Hippodrome. Tickets are £25.50. For more details visit 

www.birminghamhippodrome.com 

WHAT: ROSIE TEE 

WHERE: SANDFIELDS PUMPING STATION, LICHFIELD 


Composer and performer Rosie Tee brings a unique and atmospheric blend of 

electronica, psych and avant-pop to the unique industrial backdrop of Sandfields 

Pumping Station at the end of the month. 

Rosie’s crystalline vocals meander between dark, forceful beats and fragile melodic 

contours, with the sporadic movements of her synth-heavy sound anchored only 

by the use of striking, minimal structures. Together with Rosie on vocals and 

glockenspiel, Piera Onacko’s off kilter synths, Dan Cippico’s swarming bass and Kai 

Chareunsy’s textural drums ebb and flow between digital and analogue worlds. 

This will be Lichfield Arts’ first concert in the Victorian pumping station, which is one 

of the Black Country’s most important pieces of industrial heritage. Built in the mid 

nineteenth century in the wake of several cholera epidemics, the waterworks pumped 

four million gallons of fresh water to the industrial Midlands every day. 

Tickets are £10 per person. For more information visit www.lichfieldarts.org.uk 

Photo credit: Jess-Ingram 


49

F I N A N C E 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Wealth Matters 

A MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE WORLD OF FINANCE FROM 

LICHFIELD FINANCIAL ADVISER JEAN LAMB DipPFS 

FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 

ABOUT INHERITANCE TAX 

Inheritance Tax is complex, but many of you knew 

that already didn’t you? 

IHT receipts received by HMRC during the tax year 

2020-2021 came to £5.4 billion and have remained 

around that level for the past four years (Source: 

Commentary, HMRC National Statistics, updated 29 

July 2021). It’s a nice little earner – and definitely not 

so little! 

Yet with careful planning to ensure full use of 

exemptions, gifting and other options, it is possible to 

minimise much of the IHT you would otherwise pay. 

Failure to do so could significantly reduce what you 

are able to pass on to loved ones. 

1 - Taking advice could change your future 

Take it from me, you will not know every rule, 

exemption, allowance or planning tool and how 

to use them – and you’re not expected to. As I am 

often saying to clients, HMRC don’t put complex 

tax legislation in place just to have it wiped out with 

the wave of a magic wand. However, taking advice 

could help mitigate IHT as part of broader planning 

for later life that also includes retirement income, 

planning for social care, giving money away when 

you’re alive and passing it on successfully when you 

die. 

There is no set age for when you should start 

planning, but it is safe to say the earlier the better. 

2 - IHT thresholds and rates vary 

Understanding how thresholds work could instantly 

minimise a big chunk of your potential IHT bill. 

For instance: 

• There is no IHT to be paid, even above £325,000, 

if you leave everything to a specified range of 

beneficiaries. 

• Your tax-free threshold increases to a maximum 

£500,000 if you leave your home to your children, 

step-children or grandchildren, subject to your 

estate being less than £2m. 

3 - Gifting is a straightforward way to help 

mitigate IHT 

Gifting helps you support your family at the same 

time as reducing your IHT liability. Suffice to say, 

there are a raft of allowances and exemptions in 

relation to gifting. I won’t detail them here, but 

doing so in a structured manner is vital if you are to 

maximise the IHT benefits. 

4 - Trusts help you stay in control of money 

whilst mitigating IHT 

Trusts remain a traditionally important part of IHT 

planning. There are several different types of Trusts 

and in some cases you can access the funds; with 

others you can’t. Some are set up whilst you are alive 

and some following your death. 

Thus, like IHT itself, Trusts are generally complex 

arrangements, but my goodness, they are valuable 

tools for those of us who advise clients on their IHT 

liabilities. 

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from 

taxation, can change at any time and are generally 

dependent on individual circumstances. 

Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct 

Authority. 

Jean Lamb is Principal of Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy 

6A Market Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LH - Tel: 01543 417342 

Email: jean.lamb@sjpp.co.uk - Website: www.jeanlamb.co.uk 

Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management Plc (which is 

authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products 

and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. 


NOW 

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independence and individuality whilst being fully 

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supported to live a fulfilled and enjoyable life. 

Rosemary Lodge Care Home is family run home and has 

Rosemary Lodge Care Home is a family run home and has 

been highly regarded part of the community for over 30 

been a highly regarded part of the community for over 30 

years. Offering 24 hour care, our fully trained staff work 

years. Offering 24 hour care, our fully trained staff work 

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together to communicate with residents and ensure 

personal care needs are met in person centered 

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approach, thus building an important relationship of trust 

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All rooms are on-suite, and are designed to comfortably 

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regarded part accommodate of the community individuals for over 30 years. and Offering couples. 24 hour care, our 

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persoal There care is needs full Wi-Fi are met connectivity in a person centred throughout approach, thus to building allow an 

There is 

important 

full Wi-Fi 

relationship 

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to allow 

residents the opportunity of keeping in touch with family 

residents the opportunity of keeping in touch with family 

All rooms are en-suite, and friends and are designed with video to comfortably calls. accommodate 

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Regular activities and entertainment video calls. are always available, 

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'home from home'. 

Our commitment to offering just the right amount of care 

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with us. We value our staff highly and recognise that their 

with us. We value our staff highly and recognise that their 

care and commitment are great part of our success. 

care and commitment are a great part of our success. 

We also offer respite care, holiday stay and limited day 

We also offer respite care, holiday stay and limited day 

care. To arrange visit or to learn more about us please 

care. To arrange a visit or to learn more about us please 

get in touch using the contact details below. 

get in touch using the contact details below. 

in this beautiful ‘home from home’ 

Our commitment to offering just the right amount of care and support has led 

to an excellent reputation in the community and with the care professionals 

who work with us. We value our staff highly and recognise that their care and 

commitment are a great part of our success. 

Over 15 ‘Stair Runner’ displays on show with leading 

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0121 485 8585 or greatbarrcarpets@gmail.com 

Unit 7 Papermill End Industrial Estate, Great Barr, Birmingham B44 8NH. 

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We also offer respite care, holiday stay and limited day care. To arrange a visit 

or to learn more about us please get in touch using the contact details below. 

Rosemary Lodge Residential Care Home 

Rosemary Lodge Residential Home 

Rosemary 191 Walsall Lodge Road, Residential Lichfield. Staffs. WS13 Care 8AQ. Home 

191 Walsall Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 8AQ 

In the 191 first Walsall instance Road, please Lichfield, contact Jane Staffordshire, Evans - Registered WS13 Care Manager 8AQ 

Please contact or Shirley the Registered Kent - Administration Care Manager. Jane Evans 

Please contact the Registered Care Manager Jane Evans 

Tel: 01543 01543 415223 415223 E-mail: - Email: contact@rosemarylodge.co.uk 

roselodgehome@aol.com 

Tel: 01543 415223 

Website: www.rosemarylodgecarehome.co.uk 

E-mail: contact@rosemarylodge.co.uk 

www.rosemarylodge.co.uk 

Website: www.rosemarylodge.co.uk 

CQC RATING GOOD

H E A LT H 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Health Matters 

DR DAVID ECCLESTON, FROM THE OAKLEY PARTNERSHIP 

PRIVATE GP PRACTICE IN FOUR OAKS, DISCUSSES ALL THINGS 

HEALTH EACH MONTH. THIS MONTH, HE TAKES A LOOK AT 

MANAGING THE MENOPAUSE 

A generation ago, the menopause was commonly 

known as ‘The Change’, and most women were 

expected to accept it as the beginning of an inevitable 

decline into old age, crumbling bones and wrinkled 

skin. The disproven findings of some clinical studies 

in the 1990s also led to many women being denied 

HRT, or it being stopped unnecessarily. The fear of 

an increase in certain types of cancer, thrombosis and 

stroke also led many women to abandon treatment. It is 

now well known that an increased risk of breast cancer 

is more closely associated with obesity, excess alcohol 

intake and lack of exercise than with prescribed HRT. 

In the UK, the average age a woman will reach 

menopause is 51, though anywhere between 45 and 

55 is still considered to be within the normal range. 

For some women, hot flushes and night sweats, painful 

joints, episodes of depression, mood swings, low libido, 

insomnia, anxiety and vaginal and bladder issues can 

be hugely debilitating. Hormone replacement therapy 

is one option to help manage these symptoms, though 

alternatives to conventional HRT are also available. 

Hormone levels will fluctuate significantly in 

perimenopause, and at the menopause the drop in 

hormone levels can be rapid and profound. The onset 

of symptoms can be gradual, or relatively sudden. 

As with all areas of medicine, blood tests can provide 

helpful information, but should not be used in isolation 

to make clinical decisions. Blood tests provide doctors 

and patients with a ‘normal range’, but this can 

vary hugely in some cases, so should only be used in 

conjunction with an overall picture of symptoms and 

a full medical history. It is important for the treating 

doctor to remember that every woman has different 

symptoms, and that the ‘one-size-fits-all’ HRT often 

prescribed does not suit every woman, just as the same 

dress size will not fit every woman’s unique shape. 

Many menopausal ladies have been misdiagnosed as 

suffering from depression, and been commenced on 

prescription antidepressants, instead of addressing their 

hormonal deficiency. 

Over the last couple of decades, compounded 

HRT, sometimes known as ‘bioidentical HRT’, has 

become increasingly popular in the UK. It consists 

of an infinitely adjustable mixture of oestrogens, 

progesterone, and often testosterone, which can be 

compounded in a topical cream or a lozenge dissolved 

in the mouth. Such hormones are derived from yam 

and soya bean extracts, and are modified chemically to 

become identical to the hormones naturally produced 

by the ovaries of a premenopausal woman. As a 

result, they are often better tolerated than the nonidentical 

hormones often used in conventional HRT, 

and the variations possible with bespoke compounding 

allow the dose to be adjusted to the patient’s unique 

requirements. In some cases, women who are unable to 

use conventional HRT for medical reasons are still able 

to safely use BHRT preparations. 

You may be surprised to learn that women’s ovaries 

produce testosterone as well as oestrogen. We tend 

to think of testosterone as ‘the male hormone’, but 

it is important in maintaining energy, well-being and 

libido, and levels decline from the twenties onwards. 

Testosterone is not yet licensed for use on the NHS 

as a menopause treatment, but may be issued on 

private prescription by doctors experienced in BHRT 

treatment. 

Further information on compounded HRT can be 

found on the practice website. 

The Oakley Partnership is a private GP practice 

located in Four Oaks, and was founded in 2014. 

The practice provides a full range of private 

GP services for adults and children. We pride 

ourselves on our friendly and experienced GPs, 

nurses and reception staff, our flexible availability, 

and the additional services that we provide that 

are not available on the NHS. Visit our website 

for more details on the services we provide. 

The Oakley Partnership Private Medical Practice 

52 Bishops Way, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 4XS 

Tel: 0121 308 8876 - Fax: 0121 308 9551 - www.topmedicalpractice.co.uk 

CQC Registration 1-1346947216 

Please like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and leave a review on Doctify or Google. 


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FA S H I O N 

All white 

IT’S TIME FOR A FRESH NEW LOOK AS CRISP WHITE EVERYTHING 

BROUGHT A BRIGHT AND BREEZY FEEL TO THE SS22 CATWALKS. 

WHILE last season’s offerings thrived on the ‘more is more’ 

aesthetic, encouraged by the collective post-lockdown desire to 

get as glammed up as possible for every trip out of the house, 

spring’s hot trends balance that touch of fabulousness we all 

want with the need for everyday style and outfits you can fling 

on at a moment’s notice to suit any occasion. 

And when it comes to sophisticated, sharp dressing in the spring 

and summer months, there’s no hue that does it better than 

white. 

Effortlessly chic and endlessly wearable, white is the perfect style 

palate-cleanser, and a great antidote to the juicy fruit hues which 

dominated the catwalks at the other end of the colour spectrum. 

There was more than a touch of the bridal vibes on the SS22 

catwalks as pure white dresses in every fabric imaginable 

sashayed along - from mini to maxi, beachy to fancy, it was a 

veritable feast of wall-to-wall white. 

Whimsical ruffles and layers of tulle definitely channelled the 

bridal look, but find the right white dress and it promises to be a 

wardrobe staple for years to come; opt for a floaty maxi for chic 

holiday style, or reach for a crisp white shirt dress as the ultimate 

‘throw on and go’ outfit for myriad occasions. 

There’s something particularly striking about an all-white 

ensemble, but if you want to steer clear of those bride vibes, try 

your luck with chic co-ords. A white tailored trouser-and-blazer 

combo brings an on-trend touch to sophisticated suiting, while a 

knitted midi skirt and jumper combo offers springtime dressing 

which will still keep any chills at bay. 

If your love affair with denim is in need of rekindling, ditch 

the indigo and black numbers for some bright white. Bleached 

jeans will lend a glam feel to your casual wardrobe, while a white 

denim jacket is a perfect summer cover-up. 

When it comes to accessorising, every wardrobe needs it’s fair 

share of white footwear; fresher and bolder than black, they 

are perfect for brightening up your look. A good pair of crisp, 

white trainers are a perennial style go-to, offering a nonchalantly 

smart-casual vibe, while white sandals deserve a place in every 

suitcase when holiday season hits. 

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B E AU T Y 

How to cleanse, tone 

and moisturise 

IT’S THE BEAUTY 101 MANTRA THAT’S BEEN TROTTED OUT BY THE EXPERTS FOR YEARS, BUT WHAT 

IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO CLEANSE, TONE AND MOISTURISE? FOUNDER OF HEAVEN 

SKINCARE DEBORAH MITCHELL REVEALS THE EXPERTS GUIDE TO THE THREE-STEP ROUTINE AND 

THE MUST-HAVE PRODUCTS TO DO IT RIGHT 

How to cleanse: 

Soak your face with warm water (making sure it’s not too hot as this can 

actually dehydrate your skin and damage sensitive areas) before applying 

a small amount of cleanser. Gently massage in a circular motion, 

avoiding the eye area, for between 30-60 seconds. Rinse thoroughly and 

pat, not rub, your face dry with a clean, soft towel. 

NEW EDITION CLEANSING CREAM: The first cleanser of its kind 

to contain my patented ABEETOXIN® formula, this not only deeply 

cleanses the skin but it also controls facial muscles for an immediate 

tightening and firming effect. The addition of vitamin A helps resurface 

and repair cells. 

HYDRO CLEANSING MILK: A real multi-purpose must-have, 

Heaven’s cleansing milk hydrates skin and removes daily pollutants while 

it cleanses. Created with delicate organic jojoba – the closest match to 

our own natural oil – it helps to balance and condition your complexion 

while being gentle enough for all skin types. 

How to tone: 

I often get asked ‘why do we need to tone our skin?’ and 

the answer is simple... It helps maintain a healthy and clear 

complexion. Toners are designed to restore your natural pH 

balance while removing leftover makeup and impurities, 

unclogging your pores and reducing breakouts. Opt for a toner 

that is suitable for your skin type for maximum hydration and use 

after your cleanser and before moisturising. 

PEPPERMINT HYDROGEL: To rebalance skin, my hydrogel 

minimises oil secretion, balances the PH levels, refines pores and 

diminishes blemishes, leaving your skin feeling fully hydrated. 

Added to that, it can help remove the shine on the T-Zone, works 

as a cooling eye gel to alleviate bags and puffiness, and makes the 

perfect base for your foundation. 

BEE POLISH: This non-abrasive, anti-ageing exfoliator contains 

bee venom and glycolic acid to help alleviate fine lines and 

wrinkles and lighten pigmentation whilst extracting toxins without 

harming the outer layer of the skin. It also boasts echinacea, 

which helps boost immunity, making it ideal for those with 

irritated skin. 


How to moisturise 

Apply a small amount of moisturiser onto your face and gently massage with your fingertips, not forgetting 

to cover the all-important neck area – you don’t want the skin on your face looking healthier than the skin on 

your neck! Choose a product that is designed for your skin type; for example, a gentle formula for sensitive 

skin or anti-ageing formula to tackle fine lines. 

DIVINE CREAM: As divine as its name suggested, this luxurious cream is suitable for all skin types but 

it works particularly well on more mature complexions thanks to its innovative anti-ageing properties. It 

contains organic mandarin and orange, both natural sources of vitamin C, to help increase collagen and 

elastin levels. 

AGE DEFIANCE CREAM: Heaven’s world-renowned anti-ageing moisturiser plumps out fine lines, 

reduces scar formation, lightens pigmentation and prevents spot breakouts thanks to the addition of 

hyaluronic acid. It’s the ‘all rounder’ designed for all skin types and is particularly good for soothing irritated, 

acne-prone, blemished or sensitive and oily skins. 

Heaven Skincare by Deborah Mitchell is available at Heaven Health and Beauty, 

13a Market Place, Shifnal, Shropshire. You can also shop online at heavenskincare.com. 


57

B U S I N E S S 

Gear up for a luxury 

Pilates retreat 

THIS SEPTEMBER, STEPHANIE LLOYD - OWNER OF THE CORE PILATES STUDIO IN FOUR OAKS - 

WILL ONCE AGAIN LEAVE THE MIDLANDS BEHIND TO GUIDE 12 CLIENTS THROUGH FIVE NIGHTS 

OF RELAXATION AND REJUVENATION AT A STUNNING SPANISH HIDEAWAY. HERE’S WHY YOU 

SHOULDN’T MISS THE CHANCE TO JUMP ON BOARD 

In the heart of Andalucia, between the Serrania de 

Ronda mountains and Spain’s famous White Villages, 

lies The Lodge. Just once or twice each year this 

exclusive boutique guesthouse becomes the home of 

The Core Pilates Studio’s luxury retreat. If you’re lucky 

enough to secure a place on the retreat - some dates 

are almost sold out - you can look forward to tranquil 

bedrooms, locally sourced sumptuous meals prepared by 

the private chef, and a breathtaking pool area where the 

delicately ionised water is as kind to your skin and hair as 

the setting is to your soul. 

After arriving, it won’t be long before you realise that this 

isn’t your average Pilates retreat, and that this is because 

Steph isn’t your average teacher. A trained ballerina, 

Steph first fell in love with Pilates when she discovered 

the strength and control it brought to her dancing. After 

being trained by some of the best instructors in the 

industry and as a member of The Pilates Foundation, 

Steph went on to open The Core Pilates Studio in 2007 

and has been teaching bespoke Pilates classes to happy 

clients ever since. 

Her personal approach, rehabilitation expertise and 

deep understanding of the body’s movement and 

ENJOY STEPH’S EXPERT 

PILATES TUITION 

THE STUNNING SPANISH RETREAT 

physiology, are just some of the attributes that have 

established her as an industry leader. 

Steph and her teachers bring this same passion to the 

retreat, where clients - whether beginner or expert - will 

take part in small group classes that are carefully tailored 

to their needs and abilities, as well as a private one-toone 

session. 

A previous guest said: “One of the best experiences 

ever. Core Pilates Retreat exceeded my expectations. An 

awesome venue, food incredible, great schedule and the 

teachers are two of the best. I feel so blessed to 

have joined this retreat.” 

Between the Pilates tuition, meditation, wine 

tasting, walking, swimming, sunbathing and 

more, it’s safe to say that you won’t want to 

come home. Fortunately you can still perfect 

your Pilates practise at Steph’s beautiful Four 

Oaks studio, where she offers both Mat and 

Equipment Pilates sessions, or in the comfort 

of your own home via her timetable of Zoom 

classes. 

Places on the retreat are offered on a first come 

first served basis. To find out more visit 

www.thecorepilatesstudio.co.uk, chat 

with Steph on 07527 870 111 or email 

steph@thecorepilatesstudio.co.uk 


Established – Professional – Transparent 

The Winterton family name has been synonymous 

with auctioneering in Staffordshire since 1864 

Probate and formal valuations for 

inheritance tax purposes 

Our reliable and sympathetic 

team can assist all executors in the 

administration of deceased estates 

From jewellery and large collections 

to cars, furniture and household items, 

we handle everything 

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We handle clearance of an entire 

estate from houses, bungalows and 

flats to offices and all other buildings 

Pictures, Antiques & Collectables 

The Lichfield Auction Centre 

Fradley Park (close to the A38) 

Wood End Lane, WS13 8NF 

Discover that hidden gem with your local auctioneer 

We specialise in: 

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Gemstones 

Silverware 

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Audio and scientific equipment 

Antique and modern furniture 

Video gaming and Pokémon 

Musical instruments 

FREE LOCAL VALUATIONS - NEAR YOU 

Watches, Jewellery, Silver & Antiques 

Lichfield 

The Hub at St Mary’s 

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Qualified 

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Record-breaking 

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More than 3,800 bidders from 

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Online services available 

Virtual estimates, online auctions 

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Valuations, viewing and consignments 

by appointment only 

Jewellery, Watches & Silver 


Fradley Park (close to the A38) 

Wood End Lane, WS13 8NF 

BY APPOINTMENT 

Thursdays 

9.30am - 4pm 

With David and the 

team for general 

valuations and advice 

Tuesdays 

9.30am - 11am 

Meet Ben for general 

advice and auction 

consignments 

BY APPOINTMENT 

Thursdays 

9.30am - 4pm 

With Heather, 

gemmologist 

& diamond grader 

FREE General Valuations of your pictures, antiques and collectables 

By appointment only - with our team on Thursdays from 9.30am - 4pm Call 01543 251081 


Wood End Lane, Fradley Park WS13 8NF 

01543 251081 

office@richardwinterton.co.uk 

The Tamworth Auction Rooms 

34-35 Church Street, Tamworth B79 7BX 

01827 217746 

tamworth@richardwinterton.co.uk 

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